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What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:49 pm
by steverails
In the world of monorails, drivers are plagued with the same questions on a daily basis. Honeslty, I usually love having guests in my cab since it gives me a chance to meet new people, but some of their questions or their behavior is just flat out annoying and distracting. Here is the list:

Questions:

1) Do you like your job?
2) How long have you worked here?
3) Do you get paid well? -or- How much do you get paid? (Like it's your business. I was raised bring told never to ask this question as it's not my business.)
4) Have there been any accidents?
5) Has one of these ever fallen off the beam?
6) Do you actually steer this?
7) What is that loud beeping sound? (Over-speed alarm)
8) Why are you ignoring us? (While Monorail Central is relaying important information over the radio.)
9) Are you really driving?

Things People Say or Do:

1) Stand over your shoulder for the entire trip with a video camera.
2) 304, 305, 306, 307, 308 (Little kids counting pylon numbers).
3) Switcing out people from back to front, which is not permitted, while on the Resort Line.

-If I missed anything, let me know.
1)

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:07 pm
by mechurchlady
Has anyone ever died on this?
I have heard in parks people bringing up the topic of maimed and killed people in the park. That sure makes my day anywhere and not just in the parks.

I bet you get people asking if they can drive or at least sit in your seat.

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:01 pm
by ktulu
I'm usually interested in how long someone has been at their job and if they do actually enjoy their work or consider it a normal job. I'd love to be a monorail pilot, but maybe for some it is just a job! Next time I ask for a ride up front I'll have to come up with a creative topic.

Perhaps some fellow guests on here could submit some topics to me via a pm :twisted:

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:12 am
by Big Wallaby
steverails wrote: 2) How long have you worked here?
Okay, I'm guilty of asking this one all over the place, unless you have a service pin, which will always tell the story well enough for me.

If I stand over your shoulder, it's because I am planning a transfer to Monorails at some point in the near future, and I like watching how it's done. Oh, and I ask first, and invite you to push me away if I get too close (I'm just about hugging the door when I do, since that's close enough for me.

Tonight I was at MK, and I stood enthralled as I watched the beam switch so a train could get on the service beam.

So, what are some questions you do like getting?

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:02 am
by Shorty82
Big Wallaby wrote:Tonight I was at MK, and I stood enthralled as I watched the beam switch so a train could get on the service beam.
I woud do the same thing. When I was on the Steam Trains tour I was a little disapointed a monorail didn't come out of the barn while I was at the roundhouse. I did see a train sitting on the service beam waiting for the track to switch so it could go into service on my way back to the Contemporary on the resort monorail after the tour.
Big Wallaby wrote:So, what are some questions you do like getting?
I too would like to know the answer to that. I am very interested on how the monorail works but don't want to annoy the pilot. I think being a monorail pilot would be one of many roles I would like to have when I get done with school and move down there.

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:14 pm
by Syndrome
My GP took a year off from doctoring to drive the monorail. It was a while back, but he has a model of the monorail, MK, the hotels etc. in his waiting room.

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:17 pm
by BRWombat
The first time my family & I rode up front, we were probably guilty of a few of these. At least, I remember ribbing my kids for ignoring the spectacular view and reading the pylon numbers!! I could tell our driver was nearing the end of a long day, too, and he wasn't very talkative.

At least not until I made the comment about how spectacular it was, "but it must get to be just a job to you after a while." He lit up and said, "Oh, no! It's like playing with my own giant train set every day!" :)

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:41 pm
by ktulu
It'll be interesting if we get the chance on our next trip, my daughter slept on our one and only ride on the DL monorail, we got to sit in the back, just us three in the A/C and free of SG's :) <hank hill>I think that was about as close to Heaven as you can get...</hank hill>

(yes, I do a pretty good Hank Hill impression)

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:02 pm
by Driver_dylan
steverails wrote:In the world of monorails, drivers are plagued with the same questions on a daily basis. Honeslty, I usually love having guests in my cab since it gives me a chance to meet new people, but some of their questions or their behavior is just flat out annoying and distracting. Here is the list:

Questions:

1) Do you like your job?
2) How long have you worked here?
3) Do you get paid well? -or- How much do you get paid? (Like it's your business. I was raised bring told never to ask this question as it's not my business.)
4) Have there been any accidents?
5) Has one of these ever fallen off the beam?
6) Do you actually steer this?
7) What is that loud beeping sound? (Over-speed alarm)
8) Why are you ignoring us? (While Monorail Central is relaying important information over the radio.)
9) Are you really driving?

Things People Say or Do:

1) Stand over your shoulder for the entire trip with a video camera.
2) 304, 305, 306, 307, 308 (Little kids counting pylon numbers).
3) Switcing out people from back to front, which is not permitted, while on the Resort Line.

-If I missed anything, let me know.
1)
yes,
1) Can you do any speed you want?
2) Where do you live?
3) why does that other track just end.
4) How close can the monorails get without crashing.
oh and my personal favorite.
5) we can fit five in here, there is plenty of room. You are just being rude.

Hey Steve, It's dc

Re: What not to ask a monorail pilot or say while in the cab...

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:49 pm
by steverails
Whoever posted the thing about looking over the driver's shoulder out of interest of transferring to the department...that's totally cool. I love telling people how the train is operated. My problem is when someone decides to video tape my every move.